Over 72,000 head of households are classified as poor and hardcore poor under the eKasih system in Sabah as of December 31, 2024, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

He said these individuals were among the first to receive aid under Sentuhan Kasih Rakyat (SYUKUR) 2025, a cash assistance programme aimed at alleviating financial burdens amid rising living costs.

“A total of 72,058 heads of households registered under eKasih have started receiving assistance since February this year,” Hajiji said at the programme’s launch at Pusat Kebudayaan Rumpun Bajausama Sabah here on Wednesday. 

Of that number, 52,201 recipients have already received direct bank transfers beginning February 17, while the remaining 19,857 recipients—who do not have bank accounts—would be paid in stages via cash handouts or through newly opened special accounts, he added.

The SYUKUR programme provides RM300 monthly assistance per recipient until December 31, 2025, with a total allocation of RM358.5 million. 

The program will benefit 100,000 recipients in Sabah.

Hajiji said the state government plans to roll out a second phase in May, which will expand eligibility to more households, including those previously left out of eKasih.

“We want to ensure that those who are eligible but are not yet registered in the Pangkalan Data Negeri Sabah (PADANS) system can come forward to seek assistance. 

“They can file their cases with their respective village heads or MySMJ Profilers stationed at district offices statewide,” he said.

Assistance under SYUKUR will be disbursed in four lump-sum payments over the year, with RM900 credited every three months.

Recipients can check their status and payment details via the PADANS system at https://padans.sabah.gov.my, the SYUKUR website at http://sukur.sabah.gov.my, the YONO Superapp, or through SMS notifications. – February 19, 2025